Jin looked around the place with in disappointment. It looked like an ordinary office; there was a large desk, stacks of paperwork and a futon folded up into a sofa, a bookcase and a wardrobe. There were a few photos of groups of women on the wall with dates written on them and a couple of buildings that looked much like this shelter. On a file cabinet there were several crayon drawings tacked up with magnets.
It looked how it was supposed to look but it also looked wrong somehow. Jin decided that it looked sterile, perhaps even a bit staged. A person living here or even just working here would have left more signs of their presence; a unique personal footprint that a person with the right skills could learn from.
Of course, Sofia had lived a long time and she might have good reason to be paranoid. Still where did she reside if not here?
Pulling on a pair of gloves, Jin went around the room, looking down at the papers, looking in the file cabinet, desk drawers...
Then he looked thoughtfully at the large wooden bookcase. It matched the heavy wooden desk and wardrobe. There were books on law and psychology in orderly rows upon the shelf. Jin pulled one out, flipped through the pages and then put it back. Then the near side of the bookshelf caught his eye. There were fingerprints there but they were in an odd arrangement. Hovering his own over the ones on the wood, Jin was able to make out how the hand was placed.
He made an excited beckoning motion to Mara.
"I think I've found something!"
Jin pulled on the bookcase. It was heavy, a human would not have been able to open it. When the secret door swung open, He could see that it was weighted down in the back to make certain it would not be moved either by accident or on purpose by anyone by vampire. The other side was also fitted with a latch lock. He could tell by the rust mark left in the white washed side of the entrance that it was hardly ever used.
Before them lay a dark tunnel. Jin smiled down at Mara. This was more mystery than he had hoped for and there was the potential for answers to a number of his recent questions.
((OOC: OMG He rolled really well for once! Skip Mai, she's watching the door. ))
Hunting Stray Sheep
Jin stood outside the iron gate and looked at the imposing building. There was a plaque on the front of the brick entrance that said Erasma Women's Establishment. It was in a rough part of the inner city but the walls around the place were high and thick. It looked as secure as it did off putting.
He turned to the two women with him and explained.
"I was going through my list of our kind with the ability to -command- the attention of those around them."
Jin felt certain that the other Anantya would easily understand the meaning to his veiled reference.
"Anyway, that led me here. This is the residence and work place of one of our people. Her names is Sofia Castillanos. When I called on her the other night she was not here. According to her people she is usually around. However, they didn't seem worried. I came back a week later and no one had seen her."
He looked back at the building.
"Shall we go pay a visit and see if she's home now?"
Jin
14 years ago
Mara
14 years ago
Mara sniffed with disinterest around the small office space. She could smell Sofia, if that was Sofia, but the items here didn't seem like what they were looking for. She was certain she could track with anything Sofia had touched but it would be better if they could find an item she had handled extensively.
She saw Jin beckoning to her out of the corner of her eye and turned to see him pulling on the bookcase. She immediately felt the chill air of a room or passage beyond as if ruffled her fur. It was dank and smelled of underground.
Trotting over to Jin Mara stuck her head into the dark passage beyond. It was a tunnel of some sort. Recalling the layout of the streets above Mara assumed it ran beneath one of them.
The scent in the tunnel was similar to that of the office, but very faint. No one had been here horribly recently. Mara stepped inside the tunnel and, seeing no point in remaining feline for now, shifted swiftly back to her two-legged form. Here in the residence of a woman whose passion was protecting other women, she thought it would be wiser to travel as a woman herself. If they ran into anyone it would be far easier for she and Jin to pay off of each other in any number of ways whereas in her mau form they would be limited.
All things being equal where perception was concerned, her senses functioned just as well with human attributes. She and Jin traveled across the tunnel and found themselves at a door on the other side in short order. Mara glanced at Jin and arched her eyebrows at him.
"We've had limited success with doorways," she reminded him. "Given the setting perhaps I should go through this one first?"
If anyone was on the other side, there was nothing to indicate their presence. The door here, however, was just as heavy-looking as the bookcase Jin had moved across the way.
She saw Jin beckoning to her out of the corner of her eye and turned to see him pulling on the bookcase. She immediately felt the chill air of a room or passage beyond as if ruffled her fur. It was dank and smelled of underground.
Trotting over to Jin Mara stuck her head into the dark passage beyond. It was a tunnel of some sort. Recalling the layout of the streets above Mara assumed it ran beneath one of them.
The scent in the tunnel was similar to that of the office, but very faint. No one had been here horribly recently. Mara stepped inside the tunnel and, seeing no point in remaining feline for now, shifted swiftly back to her two-legged form. Here in the residence of a woman whose passion was protecting other women, she thought it would be wiser to travel as a woman herself. If they ran into anyone it would be far easier for she and Jin to pay off of each other in any number of ways whereas in her mau form they would be limited.
All things being equal where perception was concerned, her senses functioned just as well with human attributes. She and Jin traveled across the tunnel and found themselves at a door on the other side in short order. Mara glanced at Jin and arched her eyebrows at him.
"We've had limited success with doorways," she reminded him. "Given the setting perhaps I should go through this one first?"
If anyone was on the other side, there was nothing to indicate their presence. The door here, however, was just as heavy-looking as the bookcase Jin had moved across the way.
Jin
14 years ago
Jin smiled at Mara as they reached the next door and she suggested that she go first.
"I do concede that we have had troubles with doors in the past." He raised a finger. "However, I would like to point out that the one on Halloween was your choice."
This last one had been his and they ended up getting spotted. Jin supposed they were even on the bad door decision making. He pulled the handle that was on this side of the entrance and looked around inside.
Quickly discerning that there was no one in the immediate entrance, He graciously let Mara go first. There was no need to say that he would have argued against such a thing if there had been signs of life in the room. She was quite capable of defending herself; he just had a hard time willingly sending her into danger while he stood behind her. In this house of women it did make a certain sort of sense; Jin grudgingly admitted to himself.
The door opened into a stone walled cellar. The floor was cement and it slanted inward slightly towards the small iron grid covered drainage hole in the center. There was a faint lingering metallic scent of blood in the air. Old, but looking at the reddish tinge to the cement floor, Jin suspected that it was an odor this room contained frequently.
Perhaps that was why the walls were stone. Easier to wash.
Looking around the place, it appeared to be a normal cellar. There were large boxes, barrels and crates. Why the blood then?
The bookcase had been a secret and great pains had been taken to make certain no humans would be able to open it. Perhaps this room too held secrets and was in some way more than it appeared.
"Let's take a look around here." Jin pointed to the floor, no doubt needlessly. "This probably makes sense somehow."
"I do concede that we have had troubles with doors in the past." He raised a finger. "However, I would like to point out that the one on Halloween was your choice."
This last one had been his and they ended up getting spotted. Jin supposed they were even on the bad door decision making. He pulled the handle that was on this side of the entrance and looked around inside.
Quickly discerning that there was no one in the immediate entrance, He graciously let Mara go first. There was no need to say that he would have argued against such a thing if there had been signs of life in the room. She was quite capable of defending herself; he just had a hard time willingly sending her into danger while he stood behind her. In this house of women it did make a certain sort of sense; Jin grudgingly admitted to himself.
The door opened into a stone walled cellar. The floor was cement and it slanted inward slightly towards the small iron grid covered drainage hole in the center. There was a faint lingering metallic scent of blood in the air. Old, but looking at the reddish tinge to the cement floor, Jin suspected that it was an odor this room contained frequently.
Perhaps that was why the walls were stone. Easier to wash.
Looking around the place, it appeared to be a normal cellar. There were large boxes, barrels and crates. Why the blood then?
The bookcase had been a secret and great pains had been taken to make certain no humans would be able to open it. Perhaps this room too held secrets and was in some way more than it appeared.
"Let's take a look around here." Jin pointed to the floor, no doubt needlessly. "This probably makes sense somehow."
Mara
14 years ago
Mara, for her part, rather thought that she and Jin had had no trouble whatsoever getting through the door. In fact, they had accomplished that particular feat with much style. It was what lay beyond that had proven problematic and for that, feeling guilty, Mara ducked her head and declined to comment further on the topic. Jin was right; it had been her choice. There might have been rainbows, puppies, kittens, and fluffy bunnies behind door number two but no, Mara, you picked the one with the homicidal E dealers. Good job.
Jin did let her go through first however, although even as they pulled the door open it was clear to them both that they would be alone. Mara peered into the room, taking in the contoured floor and the grate in the middle, the boxes, crates, and barrels. The scent was obvious and the stains were ominous.
Mara's gaze was drawn upward; a grate on the floor meant perhaps something was suspended above it, even with the slanting floors. Sure enough there was a hook there. What it was used for Mara had to wonder. This was no meat locker. When Jin pointed to the floor she looked at him and wordlessly pointed up.
"Okay," she agreed, and they began to poke around, something they both seemed to excel at.
The first box Mara opened was unremarkable; it contained a coil of steel cable, thin but incredibly strong. It was looped back on itself on either end. The next box contained chain. Yet a third revealed a sampling of clasps, locks, and various hardware.
None of these boxes were closed very tightly; they were just everyday things one might find in a garage or cellar. But the next box Mara peered into, a very large one shorter than she was but wider, was much more difficult to get into. Not impossible, however, and she managed to pry open the top of the box and peer inside.
The light in the dim room might have made it difficult for a human or even a vampire to make out the details, but Mara's eyes were keener than most and she saw clearly what looked like a cage. A dog cage, but stronger, thicker. It was threaded through at the corners with more cable; at the end of each cable was a manacle. There appeared to be debris at the bottom of the box; possibly sawdust or something?
"Jin," Mara said, her voice conveying her surprise and worry. This was not normal.
She looked up to her companion and beckoned to him, holding the box for him to look inside.
Jin did let her go through first however, although even as they pulled the door open it was clear to them both that they would be alone. Mara peered into the room, taking in the contoured floor and the grate in the middle, the boxes, crates, and barrels. The scent was obvious and the stains were ominous.
Mara's gaze was drawn upward; a grate on the floor meant perhaps something was suspended above it, even with the slanting floors. Sure enough there was a hook there. What it was used for Mara had to wonder. This was no meat locker. When Jin pointed to the floor she looked at him and wordlessly pointed up.
"Okay," she agreed, and they began to poke around, something they both seemed to excel at.
The first box Mara opened was unremarkable; it contained a coil of steel cable, thin but incredibly strong. It was looped back on itself on either end. The next box contained chain. Yet a third revealed a sampling of clasps, locks, and various hardware.
None of these boxes were closed very tightly; they were just everyday things one might find in a garage or cellar. But the next box Mara peered into, a very large one shorter than she was but wider, was much more difficult to get into. Not impossible, however, and she managed to pry open the top of the box and peer inside.
The light in the dim room might have made it difficult for a human or even a vampire to make out the details, but Mara's eyes were keener than most and she saw clearly what looked like a cage. A dog cage, but stronger, thicker. It was threaded through at the corners with more cable; at the end of each cable was a manacle. There appeared to be debris at the bottom of the box; possibly sawdust or something?
"Jin," Mara said, her voice conveying her surprise and worry. This was not normal.
She looked up to her companion and beckoned to him, holding the box for him to look inside.
Jin
14 years ago
Jin had opened small boxes and crates to find tools like pliers and drills. He found what looked like clay sculpting supplies and wondered what exactly that might be for. There was a sturdy looking work table off to one side and on closer inspection the wooden top came off to reveal a steel slab underneath. Jin noted with distaste that it had very sturdy manacles attached to the sides.
He was busy opening one of the larger crates when Mara called him over. Looking into the box, Jin could see dust. He reached his hand inside and touched the stuff.
Dust. Ash, to be more specific.
Jin showed his sooty fingers to Mara and then stepped back.
"If all these big ones are cages... I doubt there is anyone left alive but I suppose we should check...just in case."
Further inspection showed that there was no one left alive in the other cage-crates.
There was a heavy metal door out of this room; Jin pushed it open cautiously. It led to what appeared to have once been open warehouse space. There was still a large empty area in the middle but around the sides were small cement rooms with heavy doors. Each door had a window with a metal grid over the window that divided it into small squares.
A small shiver ran up his spine. It appeared to him that these were cells and that someone had made certain that even most vampires couldn't escape them. Had the holes in the window been larger then someone like Mai or Mara might have been able to squeeze through but it would seem someone thought of that.
A soft scuffling sound interrupted his thoughts and Jin pointed silently to one row of cells and then to himself. He would take the right row.
He peered through all the windows, most were empty but in the last cell there were two men. They appeared to be dirty and hungry; one appeared to be ill. Jin checked the lock but he would need a key.
He looked up at Mara to see if she found anything.
He was busy opening one of the larger crates when Mara called him over. Looking into the box, Jin could see dust. He reached his hand inside and touched the stuff.
Dust. Ash, to be more specific.
Jin showed his sooty fingers to Mara and then stepped back.
"If all these big ones are cages... I doubt there is anyone left alive but I suppose we should check...just in case."
Further inspection showed that there was no one left alive in the other cage-crates.
There was a heavy metal door out of this room; Jin pushed it open cautiously. It led to what appeared to have once been open warehouse space. There was still a large empty area in the middle but around the sides were small cement rooms with heavy doors. Each door had a window with a metal grid over the window that divided it into small squares.
A small shiver ran up his spine. It appeared to him that these were cells and that someone had made certain that even most vampires couldn't escape them. Had the holes in the window been larger then someone like Mai or Mara might have been able to squeeze through but it would seem someone thought of that.
A soft scuffling sound interrupted his thoughts and Jin pointed silently to one row of cells and then to himself. He would take the right row.
He peered through all the windows, most were empty but in the last cell there were two men. They appeared to be dirty and hungry; one appeared to be ill. Jin checked the lock but he would need a key.
He looked up at Mara to see if she found anything.
Mara
14 years ago
Mara observed Jin's ash-covered fingers with an air of detached professionalism. Inside, though, she quailed at the picture their findings were painting. She had begun to view the faceless Sofia in a good light, someone who spent her lifetime doing good deeds. This was the darker, far less pleasant side that Mara could perhaps have lived without knowing. Apparently it was too much to hope that someone that good and that selfless really did exist.
Methodically she and Jin checked into each of the large crates. No bodies, no more ash. Mara waited behind Jin while he opened the door leading out of the room, wandered with him out into the larger area that might have been a warehouse. She watched Jin, waiting for direction, noting that his unease with the situation seemed to match hers. When he gestured to indicate the side of the room he would go down she nodded her understanding and made for the row of cells on the left, walking quietly and pausing to stand on tiptoe and look into each one.
About midway down she found evidence that one of the cells had perhaps been recently occupied but none of them appeared to hold anyone now. She made her way back to Jin and shook her head when he looked at her questioningly.
There was little for her to say; the scene before her affected her greatly but she had seen signs of cruelty before. She'd been the victim of it long ago. She didn't like the thought that one of their own kind was doing this but Mara wasn't naive. She could read what was before her and do whatever needed to be done. This was Jin's project; she had been invited in to help him. However he wanted to proceed, she would be a willing participant.
Methodically she and Jin checked into each of the large crates. No bodies, no more ash. Mara waited behind Jin while he opened the door leading out of the room, wandered with him out into the larger area that might have been a warehouse. She watched Jin, waiting for direction, noting that his unease with the situation seemed to match hers. When he gestured to indicate the side of the room he would go down she nodded her understanding and made for the row of cells on the left, walking quietly and pausing to stand on tiptoe and look into each one.
About midway down she found evidence that one of the cells had perhaps been recently occupied but none of them appeared to hold anyone now. She made her way back to Jin and shook her head when he looked at her questioningly.
There was little for her to say; the scene before her affected her greatly but she had seen signs of cruelty before. She'd been the victim of it long ago. She didn't like the thought that one of their own kind was doing this but Mara wasn't naive. She could read what was before her and do whatever needed to be done. This was Jin's project; she had been invited in to help him. However he wanted to proceed, she would be a willing participant.
Jin
14 years ago
"Did you see a key anywhere?"
Jin pointed to the cell with the men inside. Stepping away from the door, he began to look around.
"I suppose once we get them out we're going to need to send them to a clan safehouse."
Who knows what they had been through but it was obviously the doing of a member of Anantya. The Rose would want to contain any problems that might occur with these two men and he would like to see what information they might have on Sofia.
First though, they would need to find the key.
It did not appear to be in this room. Jin pointed to the doorway, next to the elevator. Opening the door to the stairwell, he went to the next floor and listened outside it. No sounds came from the room beyond so he cautiously pushed the door open.
This room appeared to be a large open floor plan, living room and office. Jin noticed that this place had much more personality and signs of life. There were papers in disarray on the desk, an empty glass of wine on the coffee table, a jacket of the back of the sofa.
There was a key on a length of cord sitting on the corner of the desk. Jin reached down and picked it up. He noticed a water mark in the shape of the key left behind on the desk.
"What do you make of this?"
Jin pointed to the cell with the men inside. Stepping away from the door, he began to look around.
"I suppose once we get them out we're going to need to send them to a clan safehouse."
Who knows what they had been through but it was obviously the doing of a member of Anantya. The Rose would want to contain any problems that might occur with these two men and he would like to see what information they might have on Sofia.
First though, they would need to find the key.
It did not appear to be in this room. Jin pointed to the doorway, next to the elevator. Opening the door to the stairwell, he went to the next floor and listened outside it. No sounds came from the room beyond so he cautiously pushed the door open.
This room appeared to be a large open floor plan, living room and office. Jin noticed that this place had much more personality and signs of life. There were papers in disarray on the desk, an empty glass of wine on the coffee table, a jacket of the back of the sofa.
There was a key on a length of cord sitting on the corner of the desk. Jin reached down and picked it up. He noticed a water mark in the shape of the key left behind on the desk.
"What do you make of this?"
Mara
13 years ago
"I don't," Mara said, not having noticed anyplace even useful for storing a key in her brief search down the other side of the room.
A clan safehouse would be the proper place for two such men, but Mara wondered what good could come of that. They certainly couldn't run free. It would take someone with Command to ensure they didn't talk and thanks to what she'd learned from Jin those sorts were growing few and far between. She simply nodded at him, looking a little dubious, considering that perhaps going to a safehouse would mean their deaths for the two men anyway, but if that was to be the case at least it would be quick and relatively painless.
As they cautiously traveled up the staircase Mara entrusted the scouting ahead to Jin; she turned her senses downward, making sure she didn't hear any noises that might indicate they'd been followed or that someone had discovered their presence below. Nothing seemed awry so she entered the next room as well and looked around, touching nothing with her bare hands.
When they examined the desk Mara waited for Jin to move the key. She glanced up at him when he asked about the water mark on the desk.
"That either someone has put a wet key back in the same spot repeatedly," she mused, "Or someone put a key with a strong substance on it and left it here to dry."
She bent to the desk, closed her eyes, channeled all of her considerable focus into her sense of smell, and took a long, slow breath. She tasted the scents carefully, recognized the faint but unmistakable odor of bleach. That would certainly have left a mark on the desk. Turning to Jin who was holding the key she slid her hand back into the sleeve of her coat and used it to hold the key so she could inspect it, too, but she didn't see any lingering traces of filth.
"Smells like bleach," she said to him, letting the key drop to dangle from his hand.
She didn't put it into words; she thought perhaps they thought along the same lines well enough. It seemed that perhaps Sofia might have gotten the key dirty while... playing... with her toys.
"What do you want me to do?"
She was asking about the key itself as well as the rest of the items in the room. It certainly seemed that, if the cord were any indicator, Mara might use the key to track their missing Clanmate. But if not the key, there were several other items in this room that were clearly used by Sofia. And finding Sofia was their objective, after all.
A clan safehouse would be the proper place for two such men, but Mara wondered what good could come of that. They certainly couldn't run free. It would take someone with Command to ensure they didn't talk and thanks to what she'd learned from Jin those sorts were growing few and far between. She simply nodded at him, looking a little dubious, considering that perhaps going to a safehouse would mean their deaths for the two men anyway, but if that was to be the case at least it would be quick and relatively painless.
As they cautiously traveled up the staircase Mara entrusted the scouting ahead to Jin; she turned her senses downward, making sure she didn't hear any noises that might indicate they'd been followed or that someone had discovered their presence below. Nothing seemed awry so she entered the next room as well and looked around, touching nothing with her bare hands.
When they examined the desk Mara waited for Jin to move the key. She glanced up at him when he asked about the water mark on the desk.
"That either someone has put a wet key back in the same spot repeatedly," she mused, "Or someone put a key with a strong substance on it and left it here to dry."
She bent to the desk, closed her eyes, channeled all of her considerable focus into her sense of smell, and took a long, slow breath. She tasted the scents carefully, recognized the faint but unmistakable odor of bleach. That would certainly have left a mark on the desk. Turning to Jin who was holding the key she slid her hand back into the sleeve of her coat and used it to hold the key so she could inspect it, too, but she didn't see any lingering traces of filth.
"Smells like bleach," she said to him, letting the key drop to dangle from his hand.
She didn't put it into words; she thought perhaps they thought along the same lines well enough. It seemed that perhaps Sofia might have gotten the key dirty while... playing... with her toys.
"What do you want me to do?"
She was asking about the key itself as well as the rest of the items in the room. It certainly seemed that, if the cord were any indicator, Mara might use the key to track their missing Clanmate. But if not the key, there were several other items in this room that were clearly used by Sofia. And finding Sofia was their objective, after all.
Jin
13 years ago
Jin nodded.
"That's my thinking also."
He could smell the faint trace of cleaning solvent on it. The question was why did it need to be cleaned and why place it on the desk afterward without thoroughly drying it?"
Looking around the place, he could tell that Sofia was a fairly neat person. Things were well cared for and he noticed that many of the furniture was not new. The desk in front of them appeared to be over a hundred years old. Its finish was well maintained and there were not many marks and nicks in the surface. The owner did not seem like the kind of person to casually ruin the surface of the desk. So what happened?
Jin handed the key to Mara.
"Let's take a look upstairs but I suppose now is as good a time as any to see if we can track her."
He went back to the stairwell and climbed to the next level. It was the upper most floor in the building. The door opened out into a spacious bedroom. There was a king sized bed with a very large iron trunk at the foot of it, a gigantic walk in closet and plush rugs covering the floor. The windows that lined the far wall were covered by paintings. An interesting decorative choice to meet the needs of a vampire.
There were plenty of personal effects in this room that would be very suitable to tracking Sofia. It was obvious she was no where around. Jin shrugged and turned to look at Mara.
"Do you need anything? Want me to leave to let you work?"
"That's my thinking also."
He could smell the faint trace of cleaning solvent on it. The question was why did it need to be cleaned and why place it on the desk afterward without thoroughly drying it?"
Looking around the place, he could tell that Sofia was a fairly neat person. Things were well cared for and he noticed that many of the furniture was not new. The desk in front of them appeared to be over a hundred years old. Its finish was well maintained and there were not many marks and nicks in the surface. The owner did not seem like the kind of person to casually ruin the surface of the desk. So what happened?
Jin handed the key to Mara.
"Let's take a look upstairs but I suppose now is as good a time as any to see if we can track her."
He went back to the stairwell and climbed to the next level. It was the upper most floor in the building. The door opened out into a spacious bedroom. There was a king sized bed with a very large iron trunk at the foot of it, a gigantic walk in closet and plush rugs covering the floor. The windows that lined the far wall were covered by paintings. An interesting decorative choice to meet the needs of a vampire.
There were plenty of personal effects in this room that would be very suitable to tracking Sofia. It was obvious she was no where around. Jin shrugged and turned to look at Mara.
"Do you need anything? Want me to leave to let you work?"
Mara
13 years ago
Mara accepted the key from Jin and hung onto it as she accompanied him up to the topmost level of the building. Here, obviously, was Sofia's personal area. Mara looked around, not sure what she'd expected of a person with Sofia's obviously dubious pastimes. This seemed innocuous enough though.
At Jin's question Mara shook her head and smiled at him. "Thank you, no," she responded. "Stay or go as you please, it's your choice."
She thought she might prefer him to stay, herself, but in the long run Jin's presence would not affect the outcome of her tracking. She might have asked another man to go but she found Jin's company enjoyable even in this setting and therefore he wouldn't bother her. She thought it unnecessary to request his silence while she focused; Jin was intuitive, polite, and clever enough to know that already. She wouldn't insult him by suggesting otherwise.
Setting her mind to the task at hand she took a few moments to circle the room, her perception heightened to its fullest, not bothering to keep track of what was going on around her otherwise. She preferred to track people she knew, but all things being equal she could track anyone at any time as long as she had something of theirs. Wandering the room, however, gave her a better sense of who Sofia was.
After a minute or two she let her questing hands drop onto a piece of furniture, a dressing table, and grazed over the first item that seemed like it had been used repeatedly, a hairbrush. One not dipped in bleach, which might not have made any difference but still - Mara didn't want to take chances.
Sofia's track sprang into existence as soon as Mara invoked that particular ability of hers. It was everywhere here, very strong, as it should be. She filtered through the undeniable scent/touch/sight/feeling/presence that was Sofia. It wasn't every day that Mara tracked someone right from their living area. Often all she had was a particular item, removed from its home, and the trail was very very clear. Here, where Sofia had traveled regularly, it was somewhat less definable but still present.
There was a dreamy, vacant look in Mara's eyes as she brushed past Jin and followed the trail to the doorway of the room. She paused by the doorway, wrenching her attention away from the trail for a moment to murmur, "This way, please," and then walked deliberately, smoothly, out the door and back down the stairs.
The trail was like a bonfire to Mara's senses; Sofia had gone this way so frequently. Wherever she had stopped, it had to be nearby. Mara realized that as she tried to get a sense of the extent of this trail. It wasn't long; that she knew. It was too strong.
"Sofia isn't in Greece," she said softly, her voice echoing the same dreamy expression on her face.
Back down through the office, and down again into the room with the detestable cells, Mara was working her way back toward the shelter. She never made it there though. She stopped short in the room with the crates and boxes, stood for a moment, turning her head from side to side, and then walked with unerring certainty to the table Jin had found previously.
She looked up, and then down. The warmth of the trail had definitely faded now, and as she reached the table it went cold entirely. Mara shivered when she stopped, for a number of reasons. Foremost among them, the fact that there was clearly no Sofia here.
Mara wasn't foolish enough to try it again. She'd learned through trial and error that this ability didn't lie. If this was where her trail grew cold, then this was where Sofia was. Trying it again and again would only wear her out further. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and blinked a few times, pulling herself out of the dreamy state she had fallen into, tracking someone this close by.
She looked at Jin, lifted her shoulders. "She's gone."
Mara had meant the trail itself but she knew the implications of her findings. When you tracked someone, you expected to find them when you were through. If you reached their location and you still had no one, there were very few reasons as to why.
At Jin's question Mara shook her head and smiled at him. "Thank you, no," she responded. "Stay or go as you please, it's your choice."
She thought she might prefer him to stay, herself, but in the long run Jin's presence would not affect the outcome of her tracking. She might have asked another man to go but she found Jin's company enjoyable even in this setting and therefore he wouldn't bother her. She thought it unnecessary to request his silence while she focused; Jin was intuitive, polite, and clever enough to know that already. She wouldn't insult him by suggesting otherwise.
Setting her mind to the task at hand she took a few moments to circle the room, her perception heightened to its fullest, not bothering to keep track of what was going on around her otherwise. She preferred to track people she knew, but all things being equal she could track anyone at any time as long as she had something of theirs. Wandering the room, however, gave her a better sense of who Sofia was.
After a minute or two she let her questing hands drop onto a piece of furniture, a dressing table, and grazed over the first item that seemed like it had been used repeatedly, a hairbrush. One not dipped in bleach, which might not have made any difference but still - Mara didn't want to take chances.
Sofia's track sprang into existence as soon as Mara invoked that particular ability of hers. It was everywhere here, very strong, as it should be. She filtered through the undeniable scent/touch/sight/feeling/presence that was Sofia. It wasn't every day that Mara tracked someone right from their living area. Often all she had was a particular item, removed from its home, and the trail was very very clear. Here, where Sofia had traveled regularly, it was somewhat less definable but still present.
There was a dreamy, vacant look in Mara's eyes as she brushed past Jin and followed the trail to the doorway of the room. She paused by the doorway, wrenching her attention away from the trail for a moment to murmur, "This way, please," and then walked deliberately, smoothly, out the door and back down the stairs.
The trail was like a bonfire to Mara's senses; Sofia had gone this way so frequently. Wherever she had stopped, it had to be nearby. Mara realized that as she tried to get a sense of the extent of this trail. It wasn't long; that she knew. It was too strong.
"Sofia isn't in Greece," she said softly, her voice echoing the same dreamy expression on her face.
Back down through the office, and down again into the room with the detestable cells, Mara was working her way back toward the shelter. She never made it there though. She stopped short in the room with the crates and boxes, stood for a moment, turning her head from side to side, and then walked with unerring certainty to the table Jin had found previously.
She looked up, and then down. The warmth of the trail had definitely faded now, and as she reached the table it went cold entirely. Mara shivered when she stopped, for a number of reasons. Foremost among them, the fact that there was clearly no Sofia here.
Mara wasn't foolish enough to try it again. She'd learned through trial and error that this ability didn't lie. If this was where her trail grew cold, then this was where Sofia was. Trying it again and again would only wear her out further. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself and blinked a few times, pulling herself out of the dreamy state she had fallen into, tracking someone this close by.
She looked at Jin, lifted her shoulders. "She's gone."
Mara had meant the trail itself but she knew the implications of her findings. When you tracked someone, you expected to find them when you were through. If you reached their location and you still had no one, there were very few reasons as to why.
Jin
13 years ago
Jin smiled and nodded when Mara said she did not mind if he stayed. He stood off to the side of the entrance and waited patiently, out of the way.
When Mara began to move, following a trail only she could see, He stepped in behind her. She seemed to be in another world and Jin was curious what she saw. It was like Sorcha and her visions of spirits. Many times through out the years he had wondered what that must be like. His perception was amazing but with science or careful focus a person could see what he saw. How different was it to be able to view something no one else saw?
Did Mara see a trail? Like glowing footprints upon the ground or perhaps she saw a ghostly form and followed it. Perhaps she saw nothing at all and just sensed the way with an inner certainty.
Maybe when they get a chance to enjoy some leisure time together he could ask her.
Mara paused and said Sofia wasn't in Greece. Perhaps she was closer! They might be nearing the end to this little enigma.
When they reached the basement, his companion stopped near the metal table. Jin looked at it with a puzzled expression. Perhaps it guarded another doorway? It seemed unlikely. Mara then explained. Sofia was gone. This was the end of her trail.
Jin frowned.
"She died in her own haven."
It was a spine chilling thought; Sofia had felt safer here than any where. Vampires didn't die of natural causes, at least not often, and that left murder or self defense. Perhaps one of her captives got the better of her or perhaps someone got in from the outside.
He looked around the floor but there appeared to be no trace of her body. A delicate sniff confirmed something he remembered from before. There was the faint smell of cleaning solvents here on the table; Jin did not find that unnatural the first time, considering the obvious uses for the surface.
Now though, it would appeared someone else cleaned up behind themselves and did a very good job of it.
"You know what I wonder." Jin flipped out his phone to call for some younger members of the clan to come and extract the two humans. It seemed they might be all that was left of any leads from this place. "Did Sofia, who we know had command, tell her people she was leaving for Greece...or did someone -else- with command kill Sofia and then cover their tracks by making here believe she went away for a while of her own accord?"
Pondering that thought, he found a decorative box that held towels and things in the bathroom. Emptying it of its contents, Jin began picking up things that might have more meaning to Sofia. They would need to take it all and go over it carefully but for now he picked things he thought might have the most personal history. They no longer had a trail for Sofia but a psychometrist might still be able to tell them more.
Once he was finished, he turned to Mara.
"I suppose we should collect Mai and go. At least we can leave through here and not worry about the shelter's security."
When Mara began to move, following a trail only she could see, He stepped in behind her. She seemed to be in another world and Jin was curious what she saw. It was like Sorcha and her visions of spirits. Many times through out the years he had wondered what that must be like. His perception was amazing but with science or careful focus a person could see what he saw. How different was it to be able to view something no one else saw?
Did Mara see a trail? Like glowing footprints upon the ground or perhaps she saw a ghostly form and followed it. Perhaps she saw nothing at all and just sensed the way with an inner certainty.
Maybe when they get a chance to enjoy some leisure time together he could ask her.
Mara paused and said Sofia wasn't in Greece. Perhaps she was closer! They might be nearing the end to this little enigma.
When they reached the basement, his companion stopped near the metal table. Jin looked at it with a puzzled expression. Perhaps it guarded another doorway? It seemed unlikely. Mara then explained. Sofia was gone. This was the end of her trail.
Jin frowned.
"She died in her own haven."
It was a spine chilling thought; Sofia had felt safer here than any where. Vampires didn't die of natural causes, at least not often, and that left murder or self defense. Perhaps one of her captives got the better of her or perhaps someone got in from the outside.
He looked around the floor but there appeared to be no trace of her body. A delicate sniff confirmed something he remembered from before. There was the faint smell of cleaning solvents here on the table; Jin did not find that unnatural the first time, considering the obvious uses for the surface.
Now though, it would appeared someone else cleaned up behind themselves and did a very good job of it.
"You know what I wonder." Jin flipped out his phone to call for some younger members of the clan to come and extract the two humans. It seemed they might be all that was left of any leads from this place. "Did Sofia, who we know had command, tell her people she was leaving for Greece...or did someone -else- with command kill Sofia and then cover their tracks by making here believe she went away for a while of her own accord?"
Pondering that thought, he found a decorative box that held towels and things in the bathroom. Emptying it of its contents, Jin began picking up things that might have more meaning to Sofia. They would need to take it all and go over it carefully but for now he picked things he thought might have the most personal history. They no longer had a trail for Sofia but a psychometrist might still be able to tell them more.
Once he was finished, he turned to Mara.
"I suppose we should collect Mai and go. At least we can leave through here and not worry about the shelter's security."
Mara
13 years ago
Mara tugged at the sleeves of her coat, wishing she'd hung onto her mittens and hat. She always felt cold at the end of a trail and this one made her doubly so, even if it was mostly in her head. She lifted her shoulders, looking at Jin. "It would seem so," she replied when he spoke the words out loud.
When they'd arrived she would have felt bad about that but after seeing Sofia's hidden side, Mara wasn't so sure. Perhaps one of her playtoys had exacted revenge. The woman was clearly made up of something other than sugar and spice. Had been, at any rate.
She furrowed her brow as Jin contemplated the situation out loud. There were many possibilities here. "Perhaps she was commanded herself," Mara said. "But the murder need not have been carried out by command. She could have been coerced or somehow forced to play a part."
Mara, without command, had blackmailed, coerced, and manipulated many people in her lifetime. When you didn't have the ability to hit something over a the head with a hammer to achieve your results, you tended to use a scalpel instead.
"However it happened, it would appear we were too late regardless. I wish we knew when it happened," she said. Just because Sofia had left for "Greece" a week or so ago didn't mean she'd been dead by then.
She recalled the bleach on the key and turned to Jin. "Whoever did it would have touched that key. Do you think?"
When they were disposing of the remains, if Sofia had had it on, it would have been left over. So perhaps the last person to be in contact with the key had not been Sofia herself. Mara removed it from her pocket and held it up.
"Do you want me to try?"
Everyone left a track. It might be faint, but if Sofia's murderer had touched the key itself there would be something there.
When they'd arrived she would have felt bad about that but after seeing Sofia's hidden side, Mara wasn't so sure. Perhaps one of her playtoys had exacted revenge. The woman was clearly made up of something other than sugar and spice. Had been, at any rate.
She furrowed her brow as Jin contemplated the situation out loud. There were many possibilities here. "Perhaps she was commanded herself," Mara said. "But the murder need not have been carried out by command. She could have been coerced or somehow forced to play a part."
Mara, without command, had blackmailed, coerced, and manipulated many people in her lifetime. When you didn't have the ability to hit something over a the head with a hammer to achieve your results, you tended to use a scalpel instead.
"However it happened, it would appear we were too late regardless. I wish we knew when it happened," she said. Just because Sofia had left for "Greece" a week or so ago didn't mean she'd been dead by then.
She recalled the bleach on the key and turned to Jin. "Whoever did it would have touched that key. Do you think?"
When they were disposing of the remains, if Sofia had had it on, it would have been left over. So perhaps the last person to be in contact with the key had not been Sofia herself. Mara removed it from her pocket and held it up.
"Do you want me to try?"
Everyone left a track. It might be faint, but if Sofia's murderer had touched the key itself there would be something there.
Jin
13 years ago
Jin agreed that Mara had a very good point. Someone could have made Sofia command her people or simply tell them that she was leaving before the death occurred. He pondered that a moment. It might merit talking to these people more to learn whether there was any loose end that might give him a clue. If Sofia was coerced into commanding her people then she might have done only the minimum necessary and they might remember something odd, perhaps she seemed stressed, perhaps they remembered her reason not making sense...
He sighed, it was doubtful to be worth the time and effort necessary. Sofia, another ancient with command, was dead. There were more trails to go down before it was necessary to come back to this one.
"You make a very valid point." Jin smiled at her. "Bewitching beauty and beguiling mind. I just hope I can keep up."
He looked at the key that Mara mentioned next and nodded.
"Yes, I think they are the one who cleaned it. From the state of this place I would guess that Sofia would never willingly mar the surface of the desk. So it stands to reason that the killer did and didn't want to waste the time drying it."
It seemed like one of the only mistakes this guy had made. Jin hoped they could seize the opportunity and make the absolute most out of it.
"It couldn't hurt."
He stepped back and gave Mara space to work.
He sighed, it was doubtful to be worth the time and effort necessary. Sofia, another ancient with command, was dead. There were more trails to go down before it was necessary to come back to this one.
"You make a very valid point." Jin smiled at her. "Bewitching beauty and beguiling mind. I just hope I can keep up."
He looked at the key that Mara mentioned next and nodded.
"Yes, I think they are the one who cleaned it. From the state of this place I would guess that Sofia would never willingly mar the surface of the desk. So it stands to reason that the killer did and didn't want to waste the time drying it."
It seemed like one of the only mistakes this guy had made. Jin hoped they could seize the opportunity and make the absolute most out of it.
"It couldn't hurt."
He stepped back and gave Mara space to work.
Mara
13 years ago
Mara blinked at Jin slowly for a moment and then smiled, flushed, and looked away. His complements were... distracting. And that bothered her no small amount. She shouldn't care. "I somehow doubt keeping up is ever a problem for you, Jin," she admonished affectionately. She saw through his words; as much as she liked complements she didn't for a moment think he doubted himself. Jin was sharp as a knife.
She nodded as he made his guesses about the key and the state of Sofia's belongings. Evidence of his perception, right there... and she didn't mean the vampiric kind. Jin was just naturally observant.
She took a deep breath as she contemplated the key in her hand. It would not be an easy track to follow, she didn't think. Who knew how far the murderer had gone by now, or if his brief contact with the bleached key had even left her much to work with? This wasn't an ideal situation but Jin was right; really the worst that could happen was she'd get a headache from trying too hard.
Mara closed her hands around the key and concentrated for a moment. She cleared her senses and stopped thinking about Sofia; that would just muddy the issue.
When she was ready she invoked her tracking and immediately felt her body suffuse with the warmth of a trail. She turned to Jin but remained focused. It was hard to discern this trail from the tug of Sofia's presence all around them. "Something..." she said vaguely. "This way."
They traveled out through the warehouse, discovering a side door that led to an alley outside. Mara walked with certainty toward a manhole cover, moved it easily, and descended into the sewer below. She waited for Jin at the bottom, glad she had her boots on, not so glad for her own heightened senses. It was gross down here.
Struggling to stay on the trail Mara followed it along the sewers. Every once in a while, if she didn't pay attention, she turned around and unconsciously headed back toward the much stronger pull of the key's erstwhile owner. She had to physically force herself back onto the rapidly cooling trail of the murderer, not an easy feat.
They seemed to be traveling toward downtown Nachton. Mara couldn't say for certain how far they went though. Whether because of the bleach or the faint imprint left on the key, she was having a hard time making anything of this track. All of the warmth she had initially felt was rapidly draining away, leaving her with a cold trail and no killer.
The sensation was like waking from a dream before it was finished. Mara closed her eyes and tried to cast about with all of her senses, looking for the vanished trail. She caught a remaining hint of it but it only fell away again a few hundred feet further.
Blinking her eyes open she involuntarily sucked in a breath of cold, damp air and then gasped at the unpleasant sensation. "I'm sorry," she said, once more wrapping her arms around herself and looking miserably up at Jin. "I can't follow it further."
It was no use trying again. The imprint on the key was used up and Mara couldn't re-enter the trancelike state she normally did when she was truly following a recent trail.
"Well. I don't know if it will help, knowing which way your quarry went, but it's a start. Somewhat."
She nodded as he made his guesses about the key and the state of Sofia's belongings. Evidence of his perception, right there... and she didn't mean the vampiric kind. Jin was just naturally observant.
She took a deep breath as she contemplated the key in her hand. It would not be an easy track to follow, she didn't think. Who knew how far the murderer had gone by now, or if his brief contact with the bleached key had even left her much to work with? This wasn't an ideal situation but Jin was right; really the worst that could happen was she'd get a headache from trying too hard.
Mara closed her hands around the key and concentrated for a moment. She cleared her senses and stopped thinking about Sofia; that would just muddy the issue.
When she was ready she invoked her tracking and immediately felt her body suffuse with the warmth of a trail. She turned to Jin but remained focused. It was hard to discern this trail from the tug of Sofia's presence all around them. "Something..." she said vaguely. "This way."
They traveled out through the warehouse, discovering a side door that led to an alley outside. Mara walked with certainty toward a manhole cover, moved it easily, and descended into the sewer below. She waited for Jin at the bottom, glad she had her boots on, not so glad for her own heightened senses. It was gross down here.
Struggling to stay on the trail Mara followed it along the sewers. Every once in a while, if she didn't pay attention, she turned around and unconsciously headed back toward the much stronger pull of the key's erstwhile owner. She had to physically force herself back onto the rapidly cooling trail of the murderer, not an easy feat.
They seemed to be traveling toward downtown Nachton. Mara couldn't say for certain how far they went though. Whether because of the bleach or the faint imprint left on the key, she was having a hard time making anything of this track. All of the warmth she had initially felt was rapidly draining away, leaving her with a cold trail and no killer.
The sensation was like waking from a dream before it was finished. Mara closed her eyes and tried to cast about with all of her senses, looking for the vanished trail. She caught a remaining hint of it but it only fell away again a few hundred feet further.
Blinking her eyes open she involuntarily sucked in a breath of cold, damp air and then gasped at the unpleasant sensation. "I'm sorry," she said, once more wrapping her arms around herself and looking miserably up at Jin. "I can't follow it further."
It was no use trying again. The imprint on the key was used up and Mara couldn't re-enter the trancelike state she normally did when she was truly following a recent trail.
"Well. I don't know if it will help, knowing which way your quarry went, but it's a start. Somewhat."
Jin
13 years ago
Jin wandered after Mara. He hadn't expected her to be able to use the key and was pleasantly surprised when she moved towards a door, then the manhole with unerring accuracy. It appeared to be working after all; He could feel the small tingle of excitement that came from being once more securely on the chase.
Mara had paused a few times. It was obviously difficult to track the killer and he wondered if Sofia's ownership of the key got in the way. He only had second hand knowledge from what past trackers had mentioned to him but they were normally working to find the owner of an object, not someone else.
He watched her stop once more and then come out of the trance-like state. She looked up him and told him that the trail was gone.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Jin smiled at her.
"You tried and its certainly more than we had before. You've been a huge help. I wouldn't have found -any- of this without you."
He would still think Sofia was alive and somewhere in Greece and he wouldn't know which way the killer ran off to, which might yet prove useful somehow.
"Let's get out of here, shall we? Ode'de Filth is not my favorite scent."
((OOC: All out ))
Mara had paused a few times. It was obviously difficult to track the killer and he wondered if Sofia's ownership of the key got in the way. He only had second hand knowledge from what past trackers had mentioned to him but they were normally working to find the owner of an object, not someone else.
He watched her stop once more and then come out of the trance-like state. She looked up him and told him that the trail was gone.
Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, Jin smiled at her.
"You tried and its certainly more than we had before. You've been a huge help. I wouldn't have found -any- of this without you."
He would still think Sofia was alive and somewhere in Greece and he wouldn't know which way the killer ran off to, which might yet prove useful somehow.
"Let's get out of here, shall we? Ode'de Filth is not my favorite scent."
((OOC: All out ))